Origin: Latin suffix -sion
Commission has 14 different meanings across 2 categories:
a special group delegated to consider some matter
"a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours"
a fee for services rendered based on a percentage of an amount received or collected or agreed to be paid (as distinguished from a salary)
"he works on commission"
the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions
"The board voted to commission the new manager to oversee all safety inspections at the facility."
the state of being in good working order and ready for operation
"put the ships into commission"
"the motor was out of commission"
a group of representatives or delegates
"The city council appointed a special commission to investigate the recent zoning disputes."
a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something
"the judge's charge to the jury"
an official document issued by a government and conferring on the recipient the rank of an officer in the armed forces
"The general handed him his commission, officially promoting the young soldier to captain."
the act of committing a crime
"The detective was certain that he had witnessed the commission of a violent robbery hours earlier."
a special assignment that is given to a person or group
"a confidential mission to London"
"his charge was deliver a message"
A sending or mission (to do or accomplish something).
"The committee appointed a special commission to investigate the recent financial irregularities at the bank."
In plain English: A commission is a fee you earn for doing work, often based on a percentage of the sale amount.
"The government received a large commission to build a new highway across the state."
Usage: Use "commission" to refer to an official order or authorization sent to someone to perform a specific task or duty. It often describes formal assignments given by governments or organizations rather than casual requests.
put into commission; equip for service; of ships
"The old battleship finally entered commission after a decade-long renovation and extensive sea trials were completed."
place an order for
"I need to commission a custom suit from that tailor because none of their off-the-rack sizes fit me well."
charge with a task
"The board commissioned an independent auditor to investigate the company's financial records."
To send or officially charge someone or some group to do something.
"The city council commissioned a team of engineers to design a new bridge over the river."
In plain English: To commission something is to officially order someone to create or do a specific task for you.
"The government commissioned a new report to investigate the safety issues."
Usage: Use commission as a verb when you formally instruct someone to create a specific work, such as hiring an artist to paint a portrait. Do not use it to mean simply asking for a favor or sending a message without an official charge.
The word "commission" comes from the Latin missio, meaning "a sending," which originally referred to being sent together on an official errand. It entered English through Old French and Middle English, retaining its core sense of a formal order or authorization to act.